Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-09-16
THE FLAMINGOES

column.
Hello, snow" he exclaimed, as we
left the Valley OF the Condors to descend
into the open plain.
Snow, in the month Of March. and in
the southern hemisphere! 1t was enough
to make us fancy that our advance guard
had been sunstruck-a fact which could
not have astonished us in the least, as the
heat was absolutely torrid i'll the valley, II
one might give the name Of valley to
great mountain gap bordered by enormous
rocks, whose debris covered the soil a il
to delay our advance and to keep US q still
longer time in this cursed place The only
vegetation visible was represented by some
gigantic liChens. whose silver colored
ramifications could hardly be distinguished
from that of the gray rock to which they
chung as il glued TO it.
Are you going crazy" cried Charles.
Well, you can see for yourselves. If !t
isn't snow it looks just like it. I'd swear
it was snow if the day was not SO hot"
The Thermometer stood at ITO degs.
We had no sooner reached the spot to
which our comrade had ridden in advance
of us than we all uttered cry Of aston
ishment in unison. Not without reason!
Before us, and limited apparently by the
horizon only. stretched an enormous sheet
Of dazzling whiteness, which under the
burning sun seemed to send out myriads
Of tiny sparks. Indeed, one would have
taken il for snow.
Speeches. with surprise, we turned
toward Barlejo and questioned him with
our eyes.
The vaqueano laughed to himself; he
enjoyed our astonishment.
. tv,ol
he said at last, when he thought our pa
tience had been sufficiently put to the
test.
The salines. Don Cabral had told US
about them when We were conversing
about our route at the Estancia Of Las
Jarillas; but our imagination had never
conceived a spectacle 50 grandOise in its
uniformity.
As far as the eye could reach extend
ed a motionless ocean Of salt as white
as snow. Not one shadow in all that
vast panorama, which reminded us of
the immense Siberian steppes when win
ter spreads his spotless shroud over that
kingdom of death and silence-not one
single speck broke the monotony of white
Come, courage, now!' said BarleJo;
its an ugly road TO travel under sun
got TO cross it before night, for unless
We want to lose our horses we mustn't
think Of camping in the salines."
Are they very broad, these salines'"
about dozen miles
A dozen miles! Absolute misery for our
horses, which were kept all the morning
Valley Of the Condors.
oY,iypolS NJ VT af
gallop
The three gauchos had allowed us to
Our race did not last very long The
moment our horses touched the salt they
stopped as suddenly as If nailed to the
ground; the salty crust crsckled under
their feet with the crisp sound of snow.
Then. stepping forward very cautiously.
they proceeded at a walk.
Fancy the prospect Of riding twelve
miles under such conditions! And we had
hoped to ride across the salines at .
Sallop,
The heat was sitting The white glare
of the salt-purified and refined innumer-
able times by washings and dryings, rain
and sun-absolutely blinded us. And to
crown our misery, the north wind was
blowing-that suffocating and enervating
wind Of the southern hemisphere. We
felt as if in a furnace; never breath Of
cool air to modify the frightful oven tenn
perature.
The sunset came like an amiable coquet,
who, after having tantalized her adorers a.
long as possible, finally takes pity on them.
The last sunbeams lent ruddy color to all
the naked and dismal landscape. Suddenly
n fire rod that Saavpad tn flash
with occasional lightnings appeared upon
our left, while before us long band Of
verdure outlined itself sharply against the
whiteness Of the salt At the same mo-
ment our horses neighed- They scented
water and accelerated their pace under
the impulse Of such desire as only those
who have Travelled much in deserts can
Water, We were about to reach water
We urged on our horses with voice and
hand: we had almost reached the lakelet
when, at signal from our guide, We
drew rein and stopped short.
The spectacle which presented itself to
our eyes was well worth halt under any
Emerging from the marshes. all in line,
like veteran infantry, 1000 or 5000 grail
lie birds. with extravaGantly long necks
and legs, were majestically advancing.
Their body plumage was a rosy white;
their wings fire-crimson.
Los flamengos!' exclaimed Barlejo as
We dismounted.
Concealed behind curtain Of reeds we |
could admire, without being seen, this |
army Of aquatic birds marching in battle |
array, in several well marshaled bodies.
each fanked by sentinels intrusted with |
the duty of keeping u lookout for the gen. |
aral security.
Luminous CLEANS radiated from the |
splendid wings of these birds-wings that |
to clothe them as with mantles of |
purple, upon which the sunlight played |
md flashed. The crimson CLEANS shifted |
and varied with the billowy walk of the |
oirds-an Oscillating gait, like that of sail |
,rs who have become so accustomed to the |
pitching and tossing Of the sea that they |
walk like sloop rocking on the waves.
The pink plumage of their necks and
breasts make q delightful contrast with
he flame color of the background 1t
eemed like a flock of birds swimming in |
sea of fire.
All! how dull and sombre then seemed
o us the colors of those other fiamingoes
which people the Bouches du Rhone, and
which We used to admire so much as chill
lren, when we were indulged with walk
o the pools of La Camargue
Their order was admirable: their deport-
nent correct as possible.
With heads uplifted, beaks all forward,
yes fixed at a distance of fifty PAGES be-
ore them, all marched in line: not one
ead or body protruded before the rest;
IL the wings touched like so many elbows:
he: marched in close rank like those old
,renadiers who used to delight the Paris
ans on review days, mt time when the
earskin caps were still popular.
What a sight for drill master, What
fine example to cite for those consCripts
rho, even after six months training. will
till persist in starting off right foot first!
The fiamingoes steadily advanced across
he salines without single break in an ,
rray that would have done credit to a
regiment. They marched straight .
pom the flame colored mass which We had
iready observed upon our left. {
Then suddenly that crimson mass mr. |